Jupiter -- the 5th planet
 

Missions

Pioneer 10
Launch Date:
   02-Mar-1972
Jupiter Encounter Date:
   03-Dec-1973
End of Mission:
   31-Mar-1997
Status:
   Heading into Interstellar Space
Objectives
Pioneer 10's objectives were to directly observe and photograph Jupiter and its satellites, and measure the magnetosphere and radiation environment of the Jupiter system.
 

Pioneer 11
Launch Date:
   05-Apr-1973
Jupiter Encounter Date:
   02-Dec-1974
Saturn flyby:
   01-Sep-1979
End of Mission:
   30-Sep-1995
Contact Lost:
   November 1995
Status:
   Mission ended
Objectives
The tasks of Pioneer 11 were to investigate Jupiter, Saturn, and the outer solar system, obtaining close-up images of the planets and some of their satellites. Among other phenomena, the spacecraft was instrumented to measure magnetic fields, solar wind, dust, neutral hydrogen, and radio frequency radiation from Jupiter.
 

Voyager 1
Launch Date:
   05-Sep-1977
Jupiter Encounter Date:
   05-Mar-1979
Status:
   Interstellar Mission in Progress
Objectives
The prime mission objectives of Voyager 1 were to investigate the atmospheres, magnetospheres, satellites, and ring systems of Jupiter and Saturn. Each Voyager spacecraft carries 11 instrument packages. The remote sensing instruments, mounted on a steerable platform, include wide- and narrow-angle cameras, an infrared spectrometer, an ultraviolet spectrometer and a photopolarimeter. Instruments used to measure fields and particles in interplanetary space and near planets include magnetometers and detectors of plasmas, plasma waves, low-energy charged particles, cosmic rays, and planetary radio emissions.The radio system is used for scientific studies as well as for communications with Earth.
 

Voyager 2
Launch Date:
   20-Aug-1977
Jupiter Encounter Date:
   09-Jul-1979
Status:
   Interstellar Mission in Progress
Objectives
The prime mission objectives of Voyager 2 were to investigate the atmospheres, magnetospheres, satellites, and ring systems of Jupiter and Saturn. Voyager 2's mission was then extended to become the first spacecraft to visit the giant planets Uranus and Neptune. Each Voyager spacecraft carries 11 instrument packages. The remote sensing instruments, mounted on a steerable platform, include wide- and narrow-angle cameras, an infrared spectrometer, an ultraviolet spectrometer and a photopolarimeter. Instruments used to measure fields and particles in interplanetary space and near planets include magnetometers and detectors of plasmas, plasma waves, low-energy charged particles, cosmic rays, and planetary radio emissions.The radio system is used for scientific studies as well as for communications with Earth.
 

Ulysses

Launch Date:
   06-Oct-1990
Jupiter Gravity Assist:
   08-Feb-1992
South Polar Passes:
   Jun-Nov 1994
   Sep 2000 - Jan 2001
North Polar Passes:
   Jun-Sep 1995
   Sep-Dec 2001
Objectives
Ulysses' primary purpose in flying by Jupiter was to place the spacecraft in its final heliocentric out-of-ecliptic orbit. Although scientific investigations at Jupiter were a secondary objective, results exceeded all expectations.
 

Galileo

Launch Date:
   18-Oct-1989
Gaspra Flyby:
   29-Oct-1991
Ida/Dactyl Flyby:
   28-Aug-1993
Jupiter Probe Release:
   13-Jul-1995
Arrival at Jupiter:
   07-Dec-1995
   (orbiter and probe)
End of Primary Mission:
   December 1997
End of Extended Mission to Observe Europa:
   December 1999
Amalthea Flyby:
   November 2002
Impact into Jupiter:
   22-Sep-2003
Status:
   Extended Mission in Progress
Objectives
Galileo's primary mission was to study Jupiter's atmosphere, magnetosphere, and the four largest moons for two years (1995-1997). In an extended mission, for two more years (1997-1999) Galileo studied in further detail and closer range Jupiter's icy moon Europa and its fiery moon Io. Galileo is now continuing its studies under yet another extension, called the Galileo Millennium Mission.
 

Cassini

Launch Date:
   15-Oct-1997 04:43 EDT (01:43 PDT)
Venus Swingby 1:
   26-Apr-1998
Venus Swingby 2:
   24-Jun-1999 (20:30 UT)
   (598 km above surface)
Earth Swingby:
   18-Aug-1999 (03:28 UT)
   (1166 km above surface)
Flyby Asteroid Masursky:
   23-Jan-2000 (09:35 UT)
   (1.5 million km)
Jupiter Swingby:
   30-Dec-2000 (03:00 UT)
   (9.7 million km)
Arrival at Saturn:
   01-Jul-2004
Titan Flyby 1:
   26-Oct-2004
Titan Flyby 2:
   13-Dec-2004
Release of Huygens Titan Probe:
   25-Dec-2004
Huygens Probe Descends to Titan
   14-Jan-2005
End of Mission:
   30-Jun-2008
Status:
   En route to Saturn
Objectives
The general scientific objectives of the Cassini mission are to investigate the physical, chemical, and temporal (i.e., time varying) charactersitics of Titan and of Saturn, its atmosphere, rings, icy satellites, and magnetosphere.